Brake mechanism for motor vehicles



Feb. 28, 1939. A, W. J. BESLER 5 BRAKE MECHANISM FOR MOTOR VEHICLESFiled Jan. 29, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 28, 1939.

w. -.1. BESLER BRAKE MECHANISM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES 2 Sheet-Shee 2 FiledJan. 29, 1952 Patented Feb. 28, 1939 PATENT osrics 2,149,159 1 BRAKEMECHANISM ma Moron vamcmrs William 1.1mm, Plainfielll, N. r.

Application January 29, 1932, Serial No. 589,701

13 Claims. (01. 188-152) This invention relates to brake mechanism formotor vehicles and the like, and more particularly to brake mechanism ofthe servo-motor type such as that disclosed in my prior Patent No.1,673,177, dated June 12, 1928, the present invention pertaining to. animprovement upon the construction disclosed andclaimed in said patent.

In the braking system shown in said patent, the control valve'for theservo-motor is supported upon and moves with the usual operating rodextending from the pedal or operating lever to the brakes and, since nospecial mounting or support brake into a power or motor-controlledbrake, the

detailed construction also presented certain other advantages,particularly from the standpoint of simplicity and ruggedness, oversimilar systems used heretofore. e

. In general terms, the object of the present invention is to improvethe constructiorrof braking systems of the character described, bothfrom the standpoint oi general operating characteristics and the ease ofinstallation and adjustment. In converting a manual braking system intoa servo-motor system, the cost oi the labor required to install theequipment amounts to a substantial proportion of the total cost, so thatany modifl cation of the system which reduces the'labor of installationhas considerable practical value.

In systems'of the character described, wherein the operating lever orpedal is operatively connected to the control valve for the servo-motorand also connected to the brakes to provide for manual-applicationthereof if necessary, a certain amount of play or lost motion isrequired between the lever or pedal and the brakes so that the controlvalve may be actuated by the lever or pedal to energize the servo-motorbefore manual application of the brakes occurs. A further object of myinvention, therefore, is to provide an assembly fitting-adapted toreplace the usual brake-rod clevis, or, if desired, to be mountedelsewhere in the linkage extending to the brakes, said fitting providingfor lost motion between the brake lever or pedal and the brakes andbeing connected to the control valve to actuate the same.

' Other objects of the invention, including improvementsin theconstruction of the fitting and valve and in the mounting andarrangement Fig. 1 is a side view of a system embodying the inventionshowing the relationship of the assembly fitting and valve to aconventional brake pedal, operating rod, brake and fluid-pressure motor;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the fitting shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the control valve taken on the line8-3 of 'Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view of a modification of Fig. 1 wherein the fitting isdisposed intermediate the ends of the brake operating rod;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 01 a system embodying a modified formof control valve;

'Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views of the valve shown in Fig. 5; and f Fig.8 is a view of a modification of the braking system shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, a braking system of the servo-motor type isshown embodying the usual brake pedal i and brake operating rod 2secured to the pedal at the point 3 and adapted to control a frictionbrake 4 through the instrumentality oi the lever element 5 in the usualmanner. A control valve 6 is supported upon and carried by the operatingrod 2, being secured thereto in any desired manner, as for example bythe clamping bolts 1. The valve 6 is operative to control the vacuumdrum or servo-motor 8, for example of the diaphragm type, which is'con-' nected by the rod or cable 9 to the element 5 to apply the brakesby power when the servo-motor is energized by the valve 6. r

A spacing sleeve i0 which loosely encircles the operating rod 2 extendsfrom the-forward end of the rod to the casing of the valve 6. The valve6 may be of any suitable construction but as shown preferably comprisesa movable valve member I I of the piston type which is adapted to slideback and forth in the cylindrical recess in the body portion of thevalve 8 carried by the operating rod 2. The piston ii is in air-tightengagement seal ports communicating with said recess in certainpositions of the piston.

The piston II is provided with a circumferentialgroove I2 which is incommunication through the internal passages l3 with the rearward portionof the recess in the valve 6. A port ll, open to the atmosphere, extendsthrough the body portion of the valve adjacent the groove it when thepiston I I is in its rearward position asshown 45 with the walls of saidrecess and is adapted to in Fig. 1. A port I5 extending through the bodyportion of the valve 6 is sealed when the piston, II is in the positionshown, but is adapted to be uncovered when the piston II moves forwardto a position in which the port I4 is sealed.

The recess in the body portion of the valve 6 is connected by means of apipe connection I6 to the pressure chamber of the servo-motor 8. Theport I5 is adapted to be connected to a source of subatmospheric fluidpressure or suction, such as the intake manifold of theinternal-combustion engine of the vehicle upon which the fluid-pressuresystemis mounted. It will be apparent that in the position of the pistonH shown in Fig. I, the vacuum chamber of the servo-motor 8 is connectedthrough the port I4 to the atmosphere and the brakes are released. Upona forward movement of the piston II, relative to the body portion of thevalve 6, the port I4 is sealed and a connection established through theport I5 to evacuate the vacuum chamber of the servo-motor 8, therebyapplying the brakes. The piston II is normally urged towards theposition shown by means of a spring I'I abutting against the end of thevalve casing and the end of the piston II. The spring I'I also causesthe piston II to move to the position shown in event the connecting link21 becomes deranged and fails to function, for example, if the link 21breaks or becomes disconnected from fitting 20. Such-valve actuationcauses the fluid motor to be released and inoperative and thus preventsthe brake from being set by uncontrollable operation of the fluid motor.The brake, of course, can be applied manually for controlling thevehicle when the fluid motor system is thus automatically cut out ofoperation on failure of the control link 21. The valve 6 is furtherconnected by means of a tension spring I8 to the operating lever orbrake pedal I.

In order to facilitate the installation and adjustment of the controlvalve 6 upon the brake operating rod of a vehicle equipped with ordinarymanual brakes, an assembly fitting 20 is provided which is substitutedfor the usual clevis between the operating rod 2 and brake pedal I. Thefitting 20 may be a casting of metal or other suitable material and, asshown more clearly in Fig. 2, is provided with projecting lugs 2|adapted to be secured to the brake pedal I, as in the case of 'theordinary clevis. The body portion of the fitting 20 is provided with acentral longitudinal aperture, one end of which is threaded as indicatedat 22 in order to permit the fitting 20 to be threaded upon theoperating rod 2 at any point as will be described hereinafter, when itis inconvenient to substitute the fitting for the usual clevis. Thefitting 20 is further provided with a central transverse aperture 23 ofsufficient size to accommodate a threaded member or nut 24 which ismounted upon a threaded portion of the operating rod 2. The nut 24 ispreferably locked in thedesired position by means of a locking screw 25or equivalent means.

It will be apparent that the provision of the aperture 23 and member 24mounted therein, as' shown, permits manual application of the brake 4 bythe pedal I and the operating rod 2 with a certain amount of lost motionbetween the pedal and the operating rod. In order that the control valve6 may be operated before the brakes are manually applied, the fitting 20is provided with a projecting lug or pin 26 which engages the forwardend of a rod or link 21 connected to the valve piston II. The rod orlink 21 may be provided at its forward end with an aperture which isslipped over the pin 26 and held in position, forexample, by means of acotterpin 28. With the described arrangement, it will be apparent thatwhen the brake pedal I is depressed, the piston II will be movedforwardly to energize the servo-motor 8 before the lost motion in thefitting 20 is completely taken up. If, however, the servo-motor fails tofunction or to exert sufiicient braking effort, application of thebrakes is effected through the fitting 20 by the continued depression ofthe brake pedal I.

.It will also be apparent that the degree of application of the brakewill depend upon the extent to which the brake pedal is depressed forthe reason that a partial application of the brake through theservo-motor 8 causes the operating rod 2 to be carried forward by theoperating or connecting rod 9 attached to the servo-motor, and therelative movement between the piston I I and the casing of the valve 6,resulting from such movement of the rod 2, causes the ports I4 and I5 ofthe valve to be sealed until the brake pedal I is either furtherdepressed or released. If the brake pedal is released, the piston II ofthe control valve 6 moves in a rearward direction, thereby connectingthe servo-motor 8 to the atmospheric port and releasing the brake.

of the valve in the release position, as illustrated in Fig. 1,irrespective of the wear upon these parts in service.

As shown in Fig. 4 the fitting 30, which is of the same construction asthe fitting 20 shown in Figs. 1 and 2, may be mounted intermediate theends of the brake operating rod 32. In this modification the brake pedal3| is connected through the operating rod 32 and the pivotal connectionor clevis 33 to a brake 34. The rod 32-is cut at any desired pointintermediate the ends, and the ends of the rod are threaded and screwedinto the nut 24 and the threaded portion 22 of the fitting 30. The valve36 corresponding to the valve 6- in Fig. 1 is supported upon the brakeoperating rod 32 and operativcly connected to the fitting 30 by the rodor link 31 corresponding to the link 21 in Fig. 1. The operation of thesystem shown in Fig. 4 is the same as that described above in connectionwith Figs. 1-3, the valve 36 being connected to a source of fluidpressure and a servo-motor in the same manner as the valve 6 in thefirst modification. The valve 36 may be of any suitable construction,for example generally similar to that of the valve 6, with the movablevalve member connected to the rod 31.

It will be apparent that with either modification, a vehicle equippedwith ordinary manua'z brakes may be readily provided with controllingmeans for a power brake. In the first modification, the usual clevisbetween the brake pedai I and the brake operating rod 2 is removed andhe fitting 20 mounted in its place, the nut 24 being threaded upon theend of the rod 20 and evident that the sleeve ill and spring l8 serve toposition the valve 6 so that the system will remain in release andprevent the brakes from being unexpectedly applied even if the clampingbolts 1 which secure the valve to the supporting rod 2 become loosened.

As in the system disclosed in my prior patent above referred to, thefollow-up of the valve resulting from the forward. movement of the brakeoperating rod 2 when the motor 8 is energized permits the brake to begradually applied and released, the extent of application correspondingto the extent to which the brake operating lever I is depressed afterthe play in the brake .is generally similar to that shown in Fig. 1 and"comprises a brake pedal ll connected through a brake operating a 4: andassembly fitting 4: t6 the brake M. A lever 45 .corresponding to thelever 5 in Fig. 1 is provided between the rod 42 and the brake 44. Avalve 46 is supported upon the rod l2, being clamped thereto by aclamping bolt 41, and is operative to control the energization ofaiiuid-pressure motor 48 connected to the lever '45 by :a rod or cable49. The clamping means for the valve 46 may embody a clamping plate 50as shown more clearly in Fig. 7. A spacing sleeve 5! and valveoperatingrod 52 are provided as in the system shown in Fig. 11

- tion of the valve and an end cap 51 serves to The detailedconstruction of the valve 45 is shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The valvecomprises a hollow movable valve member or piston 53 secured to thevalve-operating rod 52 and adapted to reciprocate in a cylindricalrecess in the body portion of the valve. The piston 53 cooperates withports 54 and 55 extending through the wall ofthe valve and is adapted toseal either or both of said ports depending upon the position thereof.The port 54 communicates with the source of fluid pressure or suctionthrough-a pipe connection 6| and the port 55 is open to the atmosphere.

A diaphragm 55 clamped between the body porposition the piston 55 undernormal conditions,

the valve operating rod 52 being secured to said diaphragm by theclamping nuts 58. The valve connection 50 is in communication by pipeOla with the pressure chamber of the servo-motor 48. The installationand operation of the system shown in Figs. 5-7 are the same as in thecase of the modification shown'in Figs. 1-3 and further, descriptionthereof is' deemed unnecessary. r a i It will be noted that the aperture53' in valve member 53 causes the right-hand side of the diaphragm 55,as viewed in Figure 6. to b subjected to the pressure existing in thepressure chamber of the servo-motor 48. Thus, if a reduced pressureexists in said chamber due to leakage in the valveor operation thereofby the operating pedal H, the unbalanced pressures upon the oppositesides of the diaphragm 56, aided by the resiliency of the diaphragm,tends to move the valve member 55 in such a direction as tolap thesuction port 5! and to crack the atmospheric port 55 for releasing thebrakes when the operating pedal is not depressed.

The connection of the valve-operating rod to the valve may be modifiedif desired, as it is sometimes advantageous to reduce to the minimum thepedal travel to produce full port open-. ings. Thus, as shown in Fig. 8,a valve 46a corresponding to the valve 45 shown in Figs. 5-7 andsupported upon a brake operating rod 52 at the point 61 is attached to avalve-operating rod 63 by means of a rod 64 corresponding to the rod 52and a pivotedlink 65 carried by a projectinglug or arm 66 on the bodyportion of the valve. By this arrangement, the lost motion in the pedalII can be reduced as desired and the weightof the valve-operating rodcarried by the lug 66 and the; tendency for binding of the piston rod 64decreased.

Various-other modifications of the systems described above will occur tothose skilled in the v art and. are intended to come within the scope ofthe present invention if within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a brake mechanism for motor vehicles, a brake, a system ofconnected elements which includes an operating lever and an operatingrod connected to said lever for manually applying the brake, afluid-pressure motor for operating the brake and having an operativeconnection therewith, a valve for controlling the operation of saidmotor, a fitting for controlling said valve in accordance with theadjustment of said operating lever and operatively connected to saidlever and a link connecting said fitting and said valve, said fittingcomprising a body portion having projecting lugs at one end thereofadapted to be secured to the operating lever and further pro- I videdwith an aperture at said one end adapted to receive said operating rodwhereby the fitting may be secured either directly to said lever or tosaid rod, as desired, said body portion of the fitting having anintegral extension adapted to engage said operating rod to apply thebrake manually when said operating lever is moved. l

2. In a brake mechanism for motor vehicles,

includes an operating lever and an operating rod connected to said leverfor manually applying the brake, a fluid-pressure motor for operatingthe brake and having an operative connection therewith, a valve forcontrolling the operation of or to said rod, as desired, and meansincluding said fitting for-providing lost motion between said operatinglever and the brake.

a brake, a system of connected elements which said motor, a fittingforcontrolling said valve 7 3. In a brake mechanism for motor vehicles, abrake, a system of connected elements which includes an operating leverand an operating rod connected to said lever for manually applying thebrake, a fluid-pressure motor for operating the brake and having anoperative connection therewith, a valve for controlling the operation ofsaid motor, a fitting for controlling said valve in accordance with theadjustment of said operating lever and operatively connected to saidlever and a link connecting said fitting and said valve, said fittingcomprising a body portion having projecting lugs adapted to be securedto the operating lever and further provided with an aperture oppositesaid lugs adapted to serve as a guide for one end of the operating rodwhich projects into said fitting.

4.'In a brake mechanism for motor vehicles, a

brake, a system of connected elements which includes an operating, leverand an operating rod connected to said lever for manually applying thebrake, a fitting between the operating lever and the brake providinglost motion therebetween, a fluid-pressure motor for operating the brakeand having an operative connection therewith, a valve for controllingthe operation of said motor, said valve being supported upon theoperating rod, means for actuating said valve upon movement of theoperating lever and a positioning element for the valve extending fromsaid valve to said fitting.

5. In a brake mechanism for motor vehicles, a brake, a system ofconnected elements which includes an operating lever and an operatingrod connected to said lever for manually applying the brake, afluid-pressure motor for operating the brake and having an operativeconnection therewith, a valve for controlling the operation of saidmotor, said valve being'supported upon the operating rod, a positioningsleeve on said rod engaging the valve and resilient means for holdingsaid valve and said sleeve in engagement.

6. In a brake mechanism for motor vehicles, a brake, a system ofconnected elements which includes an operating lever and an operatingrod connected to said lever for manually applying the brake, afluid-pressure motor for operating the brake and having an operativeconnection therewith, a valve for controlling the operation of saidmotor, said valve being supported upon the operating rod, a fittingadapted to provide a lost-motion connection between the operating leverand operating rod, a positioning sleeve for the valve mounted on saidoperating rod between said fitting and said valve, and a tension springsecured at its opposite ends to said fitting and said valve.

7. In a brake mechanism for motor vehicles, a brake, a system ofconnected elements which includes an operating lever and an operatingrod connected to said lever for manually applying the brake, meansconnected with said rod for providing lost-motion between said operatinglever and said brake, a fluid-pressure motor for operating the brake andhavlngan operative connection therewith, a valve for controlling saidmotor embodying a valve casing supported upon the operating rod andmovable therewith and a valve member in said casing movablelongitudinally of said rod, means including a link connected to saidfirst-mentioned means for moving said valve member relative to thecasing to operate the valve by the movement of said operating leverbefore the lost motion is taken up and a flexible diaphragm responsiveto fluid-pressure conditions within said motor for normally positioningthe movable valve member relative to the casing and operating rod.

8. In a brake mechanism for motor vehicles, a brake, a system ofconnected elements which include an operating lever, an operating rodconnected to said lever for manually applying the brake, a fluidpressure motor for operating the brake and having an operativeconnection therewith, a valvelfor controlling the operation of saidmotor, said valve being supported upon said operating rod, a connectingmember between said operating lever and said valve for actuating saidvalve, and resilient means connected to said valve for operating saidvalve for releasing fluid motor operation of the brake when saidconnecting member becomes deranged.

9. In a brake mechanism for motor vehicles, a brake, a system ofconnected elements which include an operating lever, an operatingrodconnected to said lever for manually applying the brake, a fluidpressure motor for operating the brake and having an operativeconnection therewith, a valve for controlling the operation of saidmotor, said valve being supported upon said operating rod, a connectingmember between said operating lever and said valve for actuating saidvalve, and a spring connected to said valve for actuating said valve torelease said fluid pressure motor and permit manual application of saidbrake in eventv said connecting member fails to function.

10. In a brake mechanism for motor vehicles, a brake, a system ofconnected elements which includes an operating lever and an operatingrod connected to said lever for manually applying the brake, afluid-pressure motor for operating the brake and having an operativeconnection therewith, a valve for controlling the operation of saidmotor, said valve being supported upon the operating rod, a fittingadapted to provide a lost-motion connection between the operating leverand operating rod, a positioning sleeve for the valve mounted on saidoperating rodv between said fitting and said valve, a tension springsecured at its opposite ends to said fitting and said valve, a valveoperating link arranged to move with said operating lever, and means foractuating said valve to release said fluid pressure motor in event saidvalve operating link fails to function.

11. In a brake mechanismfor motor vehicles, a brake, a system ofconnected elements which in clude an operative lever, an operating rodconnected to said lever for manually'applying the brake, afluid-pressure motor for operating the brake and having an operativeconnection therewith, a valve for controlling the operation of saidmotor, said valve comprising a hollow body portion clamped to saidoperating rod and amovable valve member therein, the interior of thebody portion of said valve being in communication with said motor, aflexible diaphragm closing one end of the body portion of said valve tobe subjected to the pressures obtaining in said fluid-pressure motor andsecured to said movable valve member whereby said valve member is movedby flexure of said diaphragm in either direction from its normalposition and a connecting member between said operating lever and saidmovable valve member whereby the valve is eonjointly controlled by saidoperating lever and said diaphragm.

12. In a brake mechanism for motor vehicles, a system of connectedelements which includes a brake, an operating rod for manually applyingthe brake, a lost-motion fitting, and an operating lever, a drivingconnection atthe center of one.

in line with said rod whereby force may be transmitted directly and in astraight line irorr'i said lever to said brake, a fluid-pressure motorfor operating the brake and having an operative con nection therewith, avalve for controlling the operation of said motor, said valve beingsupportedupon the brake operating rod, and a valve operating rodconnected to said fitting, whereby said valve is controlled inaccordance with the movement of said fitting,

13. In a brake mechanism for motor vehicles, a system of connectedelements \which includes an operating lever, an operating rod formanually appliimg the brake, a detachable fitting, means at one end ofsaid fitting for receiving the free end of said rod therein, saidfitting and rod having coacting means for providing a driving connectionwith limited lost motion therebetween, pivotal means at the other end ofsaid fitting for securing the latter to said lever at a point in linewith said rod whereby force may be transmitted directly and in astraight line from said lever to said brake, a fluid pressure motor foroperating the brake and having an operative connection therewith and avalve for controlling the operation of said motor, said valve beingsupported upon the operating rod and embodying relatively movable valvemembers, means for securing one of said members to the operating rod,and means connecting the other of said members to said fitting, wherebyinitial movement of said lever in the direction to apply the brake willoperate the valve to energize the fluid-pressure motor before taking upthe lost motion in said fitting.

' WILHAM J BESLER.

